Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-05-14
AN INTERVIEW WITH DICKENS.


The Advice the Great Author Gave an
Ambitious Young Newspaper Reporter.
In musiy little dressing room just off
the stage OF st. James hall, In Buffalo,
Charles Dickens gave an ambitious young
newspaper reporter his first lesson in in
terviewing. That was more than twenty
years ago and during Mr.. Dickens last
visit to this country. The great novelist
gave two public readings in Buffalo, and
on the day after his first reading In that
city he went TO Niagara Falls with
party Of friends. 1t was to obtain his
impressions" Of the falls that the am
bilious young reporter sought Mr.. Dick
ems q few minutes before the raising Of the
curtain on his second nights entertain
nent AS luck would have 1t the dis
tinguished author was alone in the dress
ing room. He was sitting at rude pine
table reading newspaper by the light OF
a sputtering candle.
"What is it, young manp' he said,
somewhat grufily, as soon as he became
aware OF the reporters presence.
~ anu a reporter for The Buffalo Ex-
press" said the intruder, with forced
calmness.
"Yes, yes well, what is it9' exclaimed
Mr.. Dickens, in tone so freezing that
the reporter shivered and instinctively
turned toward the door in expectation of
an admoniton to "Get outp'
"Well what do you wantg' repeated
the great Boz.
"Wh-wh-whaJ do you think Of Niagara
FallsY stammered the reporter
'None of your - began the famous
novelist with rising asperity.
81 beg your pardon, excuse me;
thought nervously INTERCEPTED the re-
porter, as he edged toward the door.
swat moment Come herel" Mr..
Dickens demeanor and tone had changed
completely The reporter looked up in
surprise. The expression of annoyance in
the face of the novelist had given way 70
one of amused interest. $50 you were
sent to interview me, were your said he
pleasantly. swell, l hops you will ex-
cuse my candor in saying that your paper
could not have sent person less likely to
succeed, even II were willing to be inter-
viewed, which / am not. My young
friend let me give you word Of advice.
When you want to interview man don't
act as II You were afraid of him, and don't
throw q net ut him as though you were
seeking fish in invisible depths. No
man whose opinions are worth publishing
will respond to wholesale invitation to
unbosom himself Don't ask weak or
| frivolous questionsl You must have an
intelligent plan of campaign when you go
interviewing. First of all you must know
just what you want to say and your
questions must be sufficiently incisiyo to
awaken the interest of the person to
whom they are addressed Once you get
man interested In subject 1t will re-
'quire only little ingenuity to keep him
talking. After what have seen to-day
cannot help feeling an interest in Niagara
Falls, but If you will excuse me for saying
so, you lack the ingenuity to set me talk
ing on the subject wish you WELL how
ever. Good night"
Mr.. Dickens impressions" Of Niagara
Falls were not printed in any Buff
newspaper the next day, but his pithy re-
marks on the subject of interviewing were
printed on the tablets of that young re-
porter's memory--tn red ink, as II were
New York Times.